Virbahu falls

Virbahu was in awe when he saw Rama. He was sure this was other than Vishnu in the guise of a human. He got off his elephant and bowed down at Rama.
Rama was in a dilemma. He would not be able to kill someone who was devoted to him.
Virubahu thought if Rama did not kill him, he would not achieve his aim.
He got up and climbed back on his elephant and was ready to fight.
Rama and Virbahu began their fight.

The sky was covered with arrows. A loud noise was produced with the arrows clashing against each other. When Virbahu invoked the fire weapon, Rama invoked the water weapon. Virbahu then shot an arrow which hit Rama on his chest. Rama, controlling his pain, shot an arrow to cut off the bow of Virbahu. The arrows touched the bow and fell down. Rama then invoked a crescent arrow which then cut off the bow of Virbahu. In his mind, Virbahu was happy. He understood that this time was coming close and the person with whom he was fighting, was none other than Narayan.

Virbahu got another bow and shot some arrows, which Rama cut off. Seeing Rama tired and wounded, Lakshmana shot arrows and cut off the arrows of Virbahu. Virbahu then shot arrows at Lakshmana. The arrows pierced Lakshmana on his chest, and he fell down. Virbahu then aimed a mace towards Lakshmana, which Rama cut off.

Virbahu then said this was not fair, Why was someone interfering in the fight. Why was Ramam cutting off weapons aimed at Lakshmana.

Rama said there was no difference between him and Lakshmana. Virbahu said he was aware of that. All were part of Narayana. Rama was quiet. They resumed fighting.

Rama shot arrows which struck Virbahu. Virbahu fell senseless on his elephant. Seeing his master unconscious, the elephant rose to the sky with its master. Lakshmana asked Rama to kill the demon using the weapon of Brahma. Rama said that would not be fair. After all Virbahu was a noble learned person.

Virbahu regained his senses. Sugriva said he had heard that Virbahu's life was tied to the elephant. If the elephant died, Virbahu would also die. Saying this, Sugriva rose to the sky. Sugriva hurled a big boulder at the elephant. The animal caught the boulder in its tusks and crushed it. Sugriva then hurled a tree which struck the elephant on its head and broke. The elephant then grabbed Sugriva in its trunk and threw him aside.

Virbahu then asked Rama to come and fight and not let any second person interfere.

Rama said You talk of fairness. Your aunt, Surpanakha, a widow, came to entice me and Lakshmana and got her ears and nose cut. That was her character. Your father forcibly abducted my wife. He also pushed out his elder brother, Kubera, from Lanka, and took over the kingdom.

Saying this, the fight between Rama and Virbahu resumed, with one cutting off the arrows of the other. Rama was hurt by an arrow and he fell down. Seeing this, Vibhishana picked up a bow and started fighting in place of Rama.

Virbahu said Our dynasty is blessed to have a person like you, so devoted to Vishnu.

Rama regained composure and the fight started again.

Seeing no alternative, Virbahu invoked the weapon he had got from Brahma and used that. Rama was unable to repel that. Pavan then came and told Rama to use the weapon he had got from the sage Sarabhanga. Rama fetched that weapon and released it. The arrow, cut off the arrow released by Virbahu and then it went and cut off the head of the elephant.

Virbahu jumped off the elephant. Rama cut off the bow of Virbahu. Virbahu then asked Rama to use the weapon of Vishnu and make an end of him. Rama, Rama was reluctant but then thought, if Vibahu did not die, Ravana would not get killed. So, he decided to use the weapon.

The weapon went and cut off the head of Virbahu. The cut head was chanting the name of Rama. Vibhishana got the cut head to Rama. With Rama's touch, Virbahu was released from the earthly bounds.

Rama asked Vibhishana how many such warriors were there in Lanka. Vibhishana said now only Ravana and Indrajit were left.

Virbahu starts his battle

With Virbahu was a rakshasa called Dhumraksha. When they entered the battlefield, the armies on both sides, charged up, started roaring. Behind all of them was the brave Bhasmaksha, riding on a chariot covered with leather. Whoever Bhasmaksha looked at, burned to death.

On his elephant, Virbahu was wondering how he would get a glimpse of Rama. He asked Bhasmaksha to proceed. Bhasmaksha, whose eyes were covered with leather, proceeded till he came near Rama. Vibhishana asked Rama to be careful. Whoever Bhasmaksha looked at, would be burnt. Vibhishana said Bhasmaksha has prayed to Brahma and asked for the boon of immortality which Brahma refused. Bhasmaksha then asked for a boon that whoever he looked at would burn. Brahma agreed. The rakshasa wanted to test the boon and he looked at the rakshasas accompanying him, they all got burnt. Happy, Bhasmaksha covered his eyes with leather. He lived alone as no one wanted to marry him. Vibhishana continuing said, hold a mirror in front of him and he will burn to his death.

Rama invoked the weapon that would create a mirror. The arrow flew towards Bhasmaksha. All the vanaras in Rama's army suddenly became transformed into mirrors. Seeing his own face in the mirrors, the rakshasa burned and was reduced a pile of ashes.

When Virbahu heard this he was angry. Riding on his giant elephant he came forward. Angada getting a mountain hurled that at Virbahu who cut that off. He then shot a few arrows at Angada who fell wounded. Seeing Angada fall, Hanumana uprooted a big Sal tree and hurled that at Virbahu. Virbahu cut that off. Hanumana got a bigger tree and hurled that. The tree hit Virbahu's elephant and broke. The elephant, angered, charged at Hanumana. Virbahu shot arrows at Hanumana, and Hanumana fell wounded.
Nala, Nila, Kumuda, Devendra and Mahendra then attacked Virbahu but Virbahu shot arrows at them, and they too fell. This elephant was the son of Airavata, the vehicle of Indra. He had asked to die in the hands of Narayana, and Brahma had said his wish would be fulfilled when he came across Narayana

Rama then decided to face Virbahu. Along with Lakshmana, Vibhishana and Sugriva started proceeding towards the spot where Virbahu was. On the way, Rama asked Vibhishana who Virbahu was.
Vibhishana said this was Virbahu the son of Ravana and a Gandharva woman called Chitrangada. He had a boon from Brahma that till the elephant he was riding on, was alive he would also be alive. Once the elephant fell, he would die too. Also there were only two great warriors left who could now save Lanka apart from Ravana. There were Virbahu and Indrajit.

Virubahu called out for a fight and wanted to know who would fight him. Rama said he would. 

Virbahu leaves for battle

Ravana was wondering whom to send next. Whomever he sent, did not come back alive.

In the heaven there was a gandharva called Chitrasen, whose daughter Chitrangada had been abducted by Ravana. A son was born off Chitrangada and Ravana. This son was called Virbahu. A pious boy, he was a devotee of Rama. He prayed to Brahma. Pleased Brahma granted him an elephant. The elephant was equal in strength to Airavata. Brahma also told Virbahu that with the help of the elephant he would win battles and the day the elephant dies, he would die too. Brahma also said Virbahu would have devotion towards Vishnu and would at the end of his life, go to heaven, 

Virbahu did not live in Lanka but he had told Ravana to call him, whenever there was a need. 

Virbahu hearing of the war in Lanka came to meet Ravana. He also wanted to meet Rama and get a glimpse of him. 

When Virbahu entered Lanka he was surprised. There were corpses of vanaras and rakshasas lying around. He saw burnt houses all around. The ocean had been bridged with rocks and trees. Dogs, jackals and vultures were feasting on the corpses. 

He rose to the sky on his elephant and on the western side he saw Rama and Lakshmana along with Vibhishana. He silently bowed down to all of them. 

He then went to meet Ravana. Ravana was sitting on the ground, tears flowing from his eyes. Ravana was wondering whom to send for battle when Virbahu came and stood before him. 

Virbahu wanted to know the reason for the carnage. Ravana said Rama had been exiled by his brother who had taken over the kingdom. He roamed the forests along with his brother and wife. When Surpanakha went there to collect flowers, her ears and nose was cut off. I abducted Rama's wife. Rama with vanaras came to Lanka. Now Kumbhakarna and other great heroes are dead. 

Virbahu said he would go to battle. He thought death in the hands of Rama would mean going to heaven. His mother hearing this came running and asked him why he wished to go to war when there were so many who had died. 

Virbahu said - If I do not go, who will go? If I die in war, I will go straight to heaven. 

Along with great commanders, Virbahu left for battle.